Sponge product for wallpapering

ABSTRACT

A sponge for cleaning or smoothing wallpaper being installed or repaired on a wall and in corner junctions formed by adjoining walls, the sponge is a pliable flexible one-piece body of a polymeric material having open cells and has at least one cleaning surface. The body has a generally planar first surface for wiping engagement with the wallpaper and a second surface. The second surface includes a flat surface that extends upwardly from the first surface at an acute angle Θ to form a beveled edge for engaging corner junctions and an arcuate surface for nesting in the crotch formed between the thumb and index finger of the hand and positioning the thumb and fingers of the hand for gripping engagement with one and the other of the sidewalls.

CROSS -REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a completion application of co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/068,645, filed Mar. 7, 2008, for Sponge Product for Wallpapering, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to an apparatus for installing wallpaper and the like. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a hand held sponge product of a material that is resistant to collapse, ergonomically designed for grabbing by either hand, and includes a specially configured flat and beveled surfaces that enable smoothing and seam setting wallpaper and the like and installing wallpaper in comers, bends and junctions between adjoining walls.

2. Prior Art

As is known to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, sponges and similar appliances are used for cleaning countertops, sinks, bowls, cars, etc. in just about every type of environment, be it industrial or domestic, household, and in installing and/or repairing wallpaper product. Typically, the sponge is comprised of a foraminous material, whether natural or synthetic, and comes in various sizes and shapes. Typically, the shape (i.e., cross-section and respective surfaces) will collapse during usage, such as when gripped by the user's hand and forced against the surface worked on.

Installing wallpaper and/or repairing loose or curling wallpaper seams is a frequently avoided task, for a variety of reasons. One reason is that the home do-it-yourself installer that attempts this task is oftentimes dissatisfied with the results. The process generally involves applying glue or a seam sealer to one side of the paper and the pressing the paper in place. Thereafter any excess sealer is wiped off with a damp sponge. However the installer must be careful not to leave any glue or seam sealer on the surface of the wallpaper because when the sealer dries it also dries with a slight gloss. If too much sealer is left behind it will show as a shiny area near the seam.

The installer tries to apply the glue/sealer heavily enough for full coverage but not so heavily that a sloppy dripping mess results when the paper is pressed down. With vinyl paper, the glue/sealer is easily wiped off with a damp sponge. However, attempts to clean off overzealous gluing, other wallpaper (such as that with an embossed design) can be damaged by vigorous rubbing. Further, when a seam is in a corner area, access thereto is difficult.

Sponges are generally intended to be multipurpose have different shapes. Thin generally rectangular shaped sponges are common but have certain disadvantages in relation to wallpaper installation and repair. The thin sponge is generally used in a manner that the user grips the long or short dimensions of the sponge and the shape (i.e. the thickness dimension) of the sponge collapses when the sponge is gripped and forced laterally against the wallpaper to be cleaned. If the sponge is rectangular but made thicker, the user may not be able to effectively grip the sponge and apply lateral forces of the wallpaper surface being cleaned.

In either case, although the thick and thin rectangular shaped sponge has squared edges, as noted above, the ability of the user to grip and manipulate the sponge is difficult and likely may not provide much aid in smoothing paper in comers and removing excess glue from the surface.

As is thus readily appreciated one of the problems encountered with sponge products is the inability to effectively reach into comers as well as along edges for effective smoothing and cleaning.

Additionally, while the use of scrapers and like configured blades are known and may be useful in certain applications, they have inherent disadvantages. In some uses, the blade is inefficient and ergonomically configured to require difficult wrist movements and restrict the effective use thereof to up and down or side-to-side movements. Such restricted use may result in unsightly errors, such as leaving an unprofessional finish and/or marring or tearing the surface without truly removing adhesive from the surface being smoothed. Use in a corner can lead to unsightly seam joining.

Desirably, the industry is constantly striving to provide tools and methods that will allow the skilled and the non-skilled to hang wallpaper and like wall-coverings quickly and professionally. In particular, such tool would desirably enable the user to grip the sponge and substantially simultaneously effect multiple movements (i.e., up-down, side-to-side, swirling movements) as needed to conform the wallpaper to a flat wall surface as well as to corner junctions between adjoining walls.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a sponge adapted for use in hanging wallpaper, and specially designed for use in smoothing away wrinkles and air pockets, removing excess paste from seams, and forming a smooth junction between adjoined paper edges in comers and the like.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a one piece foraminous sponge product which has a specifically configured shape that overcomes the problems in the prior art and enables the user to smooth flat surfaces being placed down or repaired and which can readily reach into corners and edges.

A yet further object of the present invention is the provision a wallpaper laying sponge of the type described that has a shape that resists change but enables gripping manipulation by the hand of a user.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a sponge configured for gripping by the left or right hand of a human and ergonomically designed so as to reduce operator fatigue, discomfort and injury.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improvement in a sponge for cleaning or smoothing wallpaper being installed or repaired on a wall and in corner junctions formed by adjoining walls, the sponge comprising a pliable flexible one-piece body of a polymeric material having open cells and at least one cleaning surface, the improvement wherein the body has a generally planar first surface for wiping engagement with the wallpaper, the first surface having opposite ends which define a length of the sponge and opposite edges which form a width of the sponge, a second surface that extends between the ends, and first and second sidewalls, respectively, that extend between the first and second surfaces, the second surface including a flat surface that extends upwardly from the first end and is at an acute angle Θ to the first surface to form a beveled edge for engaging corner junctions and an arcuate surface that extends between the second end and conjoins with the upward extension of the flat surface, the arcuate surface being concave down in cross-section for nesting the crotch formed between the thumb and index finger of the hand and positioning the thumb and fingers of the hand for gripping engagement with one and the other of the sidewalls.

According to this sponge product, the sidewalls extend generally perpendicularly upward from the first and second edges of the first surface, the first and second surfaces are generally symmetrically disposed about a vertical plane disposed perpendicularly to the first surface and medially of the sidewalls, and the acute angle Θ is less than 90° but more than 85° degrees to a perpendicular to the first surface, and preferably about 88°.

According to this improvement, the distance between the second surface and the first surface defines the height of the sponge, the length being more than twice that of the width and the height being approximately the same as the width.

According to this invention, the length of the first surface is approximately 4 to 5 times that of the flat surface as measured by the upward extension thereof from the first edge.

According to this invention, the arcuate surface generally approximates that of an ellipse the major axis of which is disposed in the first surface and extends between the ends thereof.

According to this invention, the arcuate surface is truncated at the second end to form a second beveled edge.

In another embodiment of this invention therein is provided a hand-held sponge for applying, smoothing and cleaning wallpaper being applied to walls and comers formed between walls, the sponge being of one piece construction and formed of a resiliently deformable foraminous material, the sponge comprising a planar cleaning surface having first and second ends, an arcuate surface for nesting the crotch of the user's hand, a pair of sidewalls extending between the surfaces and adapted to be gripped by the thumb and fingers of the user's hand, and a flat surface extending between the first edge of the cleaning surface and the arcuate surface to form a sharp beveled edge at said first end, the flat surface being between 80°-90° to the cleaning surface, and the separation between the sidewalls being about half the distance between the ends of the cleaning surface to provide an effective sponge body for gripping by the hand of a user.

It is of major significance that the sponge of this invention is symmetrically adapted for either left-handed or right-handed use and fits comfortably in any size hand and does not limit wrist movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view looking down at a sponge product embodiment of the present invention in use and gripped by the hand of a human to install and/or clean wallpaper;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the sponge shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the sponge shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the sponge shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the sponge of FIG. 1 grasped by the hand and applying wallpaper near a wall junction or corner, and

FIG. 6 is a view showing the sponge of FIG. 1 grasped by the hand and applying wallpaper in the wall junction or corner and sealing a seam between a previously laid sheet of wallpaper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Now, and with reference to the drawing, and referring to FIGS. 1 5, and 6, there is depicted therein a sponge product 10 in according to this invention. The right hand 12 (shown in phantom) of a user is shown gripping the sponge in a manner to hang wallpaper or wall covering 14 on a surface 16 a of a wall 16 (FIG. 1) or conform to junctions in a corner formed between adjoining walls 16 and 18 (FIGS. 5 and 6).

As shown in FIG. 1, the junction (or crotch) formed between the index finger 20 and thumb 22 of the user's hand 12 is seated atop the sponge and the four fingers and thumb disposed in gripping engagement with opposite sidewalls of the sponge. The arrows indicate that the user may manipulate the sponge 10 in forward and rearward directions 10 a and 10 b, side-to-side directions 10 c and 10 d, and in rotary directions 10 e and 10 f.

In general, the sponge product or sponge 10 is a tool or applicator that is ergonomically designed to be gripped by the left or right hand of the human for smoothing and seam setting wallpaper onto a flat surface, junctions and comers of adjoining walls, obviating potential air pockets not smoothed, and cleaning adhesive product from the wallpaper product being laid, without marring or tearing the surface and without the user developing fatigue and the like from a sponge that does not hold shape.

As will be understood in the discussion to follow, material properties of the sponge enablers the sponge to maintain shape and enables the sponge to be gripped by the user to manipulate the sponge in a manner that the shape will not collapse upon gripping but remain true to shape and flattened surfaces thereof to allow manipulation thereof relative to the wallpaper 12 whether to conform to flat surfaces or comers junctions of adjoining walls. Additionally, the specific materials contemplated are discussed in greater detail in the description that follows.

The sponge product or sponge 12 comprises a solid foraminous body of resiliently yieldable polymeric material having open cells. The body is formed to include a generally planar rectangular shaped bottom cleaning surface 24 for wiping engagement with the exterior surface 14 b of wallpaper 14, the bottom cleaning surface 24 having opposite longitudinal ends 13 a and 13 b which define a length “L” of the sponge and opposite lateral edges 15 a and 15 b which form a width “W” of the sponge, a top or upper second surface 26 that extends between the ends 13 a and 13 b, and first and second sidewalls 28 and 30, respectively, that extend vertically between the bottom and top surfaces 24 and 26.

Importantly, the upper surface 26 includes a flat surface 32 and an arcuate surface 36. The flat surface 32 extends upwardly from the end 13 a of the sponge body and is at an acute angle Θ to the cleaning surface 24 to form an angled or beveled edge 34 for engaging corner junctions (e. g., see FIGS. 5 and 6) formed between walls 16 and 18.

The acute angle Θ is less than 90° but more than 85° to the bottom surface 24. Preferably, the acute angle Θ is about 88°. The sponge could also be configured such that each end 13 a and 13 b is provided with a flat surface 32 to provide the user with two beveled edges 34. In such configuration, the acute angle Θ at the end 13 a may be different than that at the end 13 b.

The arcuate surface 36 extends between the end 13 b and conjoins with the upward extension of the angled flat surface 32. Importantly, the arcuate surface 36 is radiussed and concave down in cross-section (see FIGS. 1 and 4) for nesting the crotch 21 formed between the thumb 22 and index finger 20 of the hand 12 and positioning the thumb and fingers of the hand for gripping engagement, respectively, with one and the other of the sidewalls 28 and 30.

According to this sponge product, the sidewalls 28 and 30 extend generally perpendicularly upward from the lateral edges 15 a and 15 b of the bottom cleaning surface 24. Further, the bottom and top surfaces 24 and 26 and the sidewalls 28 and 30 are generally symmetrically disposed about a central longitudinal axis “A” extending between the ends 13 a and 13 b and a vertical plane “B” disposed perpendicularly to the bottom cleaning surface 24 and medially of the sidewalls 28 and 30.

According to this improvement, the distance between the crest “C” of the top surface 26, as measured along the vertical mid-plane “B”, and the bottom cleaning surface 24, defines the height “H” of the sponge.

In one embodiment, the length “L” is more than twice that of the width “W” and the height “H” is approximately the same as the width “W”. The length of the cleaning surface 24 is approximately 4 to 5 times that of the angled flat surface 32 as measured by the upward extension thereof from the forward edge 13 a.

Even more particularly, the sponge body has a length “L” of about 7 inches, a width “W” of about 3¼ inches, a height “H” of about 3¼ inches, and an upward extension of the face 32 from the sharp edge 13 a of about 2 inches.

According to this invention, the arcuate surface 36 generally approximates that of an ellipse, the major axis of which is disposed on the surface 24. In FIG. 1, the dotted lines projecting forwardly from the edge 13 a depict the sponge 10 if not truncated by the angled flat face 32.

In FIG. 1, the sponge 10 is shown gripped by the user's hand 12 and hanging wallpaper 14 on the wall 16. The sponge is manipulated by the by the user's hand into a desired direction, depending on whether to smooth or clean air bubbles and wrinkles.

In FIG. 5, the sponge 10 is being manipulated into a corner junction between the walls 16 and 18. A sheet of wallpaper 19 has been previously adhered to the surface 18 a of the wall 18. The bottom surface 24 of the sponge 10 is pressed against the top exterior surface 14 b of the wallpaper 14, causing the bottom surface 14 a to be adhered against the wall surface 16 a. The angled edge 32 is approaching a marginal free edge portion 14 c of the wallpaper 14.

In FIG. 6, the end face 32 of the hand held sponge 10 is shown forcing the edge 14 c of the wallpaper 14 over the previously laid wallpaper 19. The sponge is shown applying, smoothing and cleaning wallpaper being applied to walls and comers formed between walls.

The sponge, being of one piece construction and formed of a resiliently deformable foraminous material, enables the sponge body to be gripped and retain shape for performing the requisite functions, such as to glide easily over all types of wall coverings without marring, tearing, puncturing, or lifting the surface. The shape and material of the sponge body increase the user's ability to smooth the wall covering to conform to the surface to which it is applied and to “work” the seam so that it is tightly butted and set. Desirably, the sponge body of this invention eliminates the need for a smoothing blade. It is of major significance that this invention facilitates the precision butting and closure of seams in corner joint applications

The foraminous or sponge-type portion typically comprises a polyurethane foam and, more particularly, an open-celled hydrophilic, polyurethane foam. The actual manufacture of these foams is well known in the art.

For example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,841,586 and 6,855,741, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference there is disclosed therein the manufacture of useful polyester polyol-based polyurethane foams. Typically, these foams utilize suitable polyester polyols such as those produced by reacting a dicarboxylic and/or monocarboxylic acid with an excess of a diol and/or polyhydroxy alcohol, for example, adipic acid, glutaric acid, succinic acid, phthalic acid or anhydride, and/or fatty acids (linolic acid, oleic acid and the like) with diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, neopentyl glycol, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane, and/or pentaerythritol. Examples of these polyols are LEXOREZ 1102-50 or LEXOREZ 1102-60 from Inolex Chemical Company or FOMREZ 50 or FOMREZ 60 from Crompton Corporation. Other suitable polyester polyols can be prepared by reacting a lactone with an excess of a diol such as caprolactone with propylene glycol. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,555 for further discussion of suitable polyester polyols, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Generally, however, these polyester polyurethane foams are prepared from the reaction of a hydrophilic polyester polyol and a polyisocyanate. Hydrophilic ester polyols are typically reaction products of polyethylene glycol and adipic acid. Examples are FOMREZ 45 from Crompton and LEXOREZ 1105-HV2 from Inolex Chemical Company.

The “hydroxyl number” for a polyol is a measure of the amount of reactive hydroxyl groups available for reaction. The value is reported as the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide equivalent to the hydroxyl groups found in one gram of the sample. “Functionality” of a polyol is defined as the average number of hydroxyl group sites per molecule. Preferably, the polyester polyols ordinarily used to form the foams have a hydroxyl number in the range of 20 to 150, more preferably, in the range of 40 to 100, and most preferably in the range of 50 to 60.

The term “polyisocyanate” refers particularly to isocyanates that have previously been suggested for use in preparing polyurethane foams. “Polyisocyanates” include di- and poly-isocyanates and prepolymers of polyols and polyisocyanates having excess isocyanate groups available to react with additional polyol. The amount of polyisocyanate employed is frequently expressed by the term “index”, which refers to the actual amount of isocyanate required for reaction with all of the active hydrogen-containing compounds present in the reaction mixture multiplied by 100. For most foam applications, the isocyanate index is in the range of between about 75 to 140.

The polyester polyurethane foams are prepared using any suitable organic polyisocyanates well known in the art including, for example, hexamethylene diisocyanate, phenylene diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and 4, 4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). The methylene diisocyanates suitable for use are diphenyl methane diisocyanate and polymethylene polyphenyl isocyanate blends (sometimes referred to as “MDI” or “polymeric MDI”). The MDI blends can contain diphenylmethane 4, 4′ diisocyanate, as well as 2, 2′- and 2, 4′- isomers and higher molecular weight oligomers and have an isocyanate functionality of from about 2.1 to 2.7, preferably from about 2.1 to 2.5. Preferably, the isocyanate is selected from a commercial mixture of 2,4- and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate. A well-known commercial toluene diisocyanate is TD80, a blend of 80% 24-toluene diisocyanate and 20% 26-toluene diisocyanate. Polyisocyanates are typically used at a level of between 20 and 90 parts by weight per 100 parts of polyol, depending upon the polyol OH content and water content of the formulation.

One or more surfactants may also be employed in the foam-forming composition. The surfactants lower the bulk surface tension, promote nucleation of bubbles, stabilize the rising cellular structure, emulsify incompatible ingredients, and may have some effect on the hydrophilicity of the resulting foam. The surfactants typically used in polyurethane foam applications are polysiloxane-polyoxyalkylene copolymers, which are generally used at levels between about 0.5 and 3 parts by weight per 100 parts polyol. In the present invention, from 1.0 to 3.0 parts by weight per 100 parts polyol of surfactant is preferred. Surfactants, which may for example be organic or silicone based, such as FOMREZ M66-86A (Witco) and L532 (OSi Specialties) may be used to stabilize the cell structure, to act as emulsifiers and to assist in mixing. Most preferably, the surfactant is a cell opening silicone surfactant in an amount from 1.5 to 2.5 parts by weight per 100 parts polyol.

Catalysts are used to control the relative rates of water-polyisocyanate (gas-forming or blowing) and polyol-polyisocyanate (gelling) reactions. The catalyst may be a single component, or in most cases a mixture of two or more compounds. Preferred catalysts for polyurethane foam production are organotin salts and tertiary amines. The amine catalysts are known to have a greater effect on the water-polyisocyanate reaction, whereas the organotin catalysts are known to have a greater effect on the polyol-polyisocyanate reaction. The amount of catalyst used depends upon the formulation employed and the type of catalyst, as known to those skilled in the art.

Suitable urethane catalysts are all those well known to the worker skilled in the art, including tertiary amines such as triethylenediamine, N-methylimidazole, 1,2-dimethylimidazole, N-methylmorpholine, N-ethylmorpholine, triethylamine, tributylamine, triethanolamine, dimethylethanolamine and bisdimethylaminodiethylether, and organotins such as stannous octoate, stannous acetate, stannous oleate, stannous laurate, dibutyltin dilaurate and dibutyltin bis (2-ethylhexanoate), and other such tin salts. Other useful catalysts include tin 2-ethylcaproate, tin naphthoate, tin octylate and the like. These catalysts may be used singly or in combination, and it may be more effective to use an amine together with an organometallic compound or an organic acid salt of a metal. Catalysts should be present at about 0.0001 to about 5 weight percent of the reaction mixture.

Other useful amines which may be used as the catalyst in the present invention include, for example, trialkylamines, such as triethylene amine; N, N, N′, N′-tetramethyl-1, 3-butanediamine; amino alcohols such as dimethyl ethanolamine; ester amines such as ethoxylamine, ethoxyldiamine, bis-(diethylethanolamine) adipate; triethylenediamine; cyclohexylamine derivatives such as N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine; morpholine derivative such as N-methylmorpholine; and piparazine derivatives such as N,N′-diethyl-2-methylpiparazine, N,N′-bis-(2-hydroxypropyl)-2-methylpiparazine, bis (2,2′-dimethylaminoethyl)ether, and the like.

The catalysts, including 1,3,5-tris-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-1,3,5-triazine, bis-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)methyl-amine, potassium acetate, potassium octoate, and DBU, and the methods of use of U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,011 are exemplary and are incorporated herein by reference.

Water is preferably the sole blowing agent to produce carbon dioxide by reaction with the isocyanate. Water is usually used at about 0.1 to about 10 parts per hundred parts of polyol, by weight (pphp), preferably between about 2 and about 8 pphp, more preferably between about 3 and about 6.5 pphp, most preferably between about 3.5 and about 5.8. At foam indexes below 100, the stoichiometric excess of water blows, via vaporization, and cools the foam, and does not take part of the reaction to produce carbon dioxide.

The use of water as the foaming agent in flexible polyurethane foams increases the firmness of the resulting foams. A soft, flexible, plasticized water-blown polyurethane foam composition can be produced from the reaction of a polyol and toluene diisocyanate by adding a plasticizer selected from the group of phthalates, phosphate esters and benzoates to the reaction compounds. The types of plasticizers used in this invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,968, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Other blowing agents that are conventionally used in the art may be used herein, such as fluorocarbon compounds, including trichlorofluoromethane, methylene chloride, methyl chloroform, as well as acetone can be included. While the amount of inert blowing material may range from about 0 to about 30 pphp, commercially acceptable foams can generally be made using between about 0 and about 8 pphp, typically between about 0 and about 5 pphp, more typically between about 1 and about 3 pphp.

A double-cell structure may be created to replicate the appearance of natural sea sponges. Materials used to create a double cell structure may be added to the foam forming mixture. These include: castor oil derivatives, stearic acid, acetic acid and low melting point waxes. These materials create voids larger than the prevailing pores within the resulting foam structure. If used, the double-cell additive preferably is added in an amount from 0.04 to 0.21 parts per 100 parts polyol.

Plasticizers which may be used include phthalate plasticizers such as, for example, alkyl aryl phthalates, or alkyl benzyl phthalates, including butyl benzyl phthalate, alkyl benzyl phthalate, preferably wherein the alkyl group has a carbon chain of from seven to nine carbon atoms, Texanol.RTM. benzyl phthalate, (which is 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-monobutyrate benzyl phthalate), alkyl phenyl phthalate, symmetrical and unsymmetrical dialkyl phthalates including diisononyl phihalate, diisodecyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, Di-n-butyl phthalate, Dioctyl phthalate, dihexyl phthalate, diheptyl phthalate, butyloctyl phthalate, linear dialkyl phthalate wherein the alkyl groups are independently carbon chains having from seven to eleven carbon atoms, and butyl cyclohexyl phthalate; phosphate ester plasticizers such as, for example, 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate, isodecyl diphenyl phosphate, mixed dodecyl and tetradecyl diphenyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphate, tributyl phosphate, butylphenyl diphenyl phosphate and isopropylated triphenyl phosphate; and benzoate plasticizers such as, for example, Texanol.RTM. benzoate (which is 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-monobutyrate benzoate), glycol benzoate, propylene glycol dibenzoate, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, and tripropylene glycol dibenzoates.

Also, crosslinker/extenders may be incorporated into the foam formulation. As used herein, the term “crosslinker” is meant to include both compounds generally known as crosslinkers and compounds generally known as chain extenders or simply extenders. Crosslinkers are compounds that contain two or more isocyanate-reactive groups, such as hydroxyl groups, primary amines, and secondary amines.

Effective chain extender or crosslinkers can be from the saccharides, which were found to be generally effective and a preferred class. This class includes sorbitol, sucrose, mannitol, ribose, xylitol, lactose, and fructose. Sorbitol and mannitol are more preferred. These compounds are not soluble in the plasticizer, but these are generally soluble in water and thus can be easily incorporated into the water-blown foam composition.

The polyamines, 4,4′-methylene-bis-(3-chloro-2,6-diethylaniline) (MCDEA) at 0.5 pphp, and amine terminated polyalkylene oxide such as JEFFAMINE.RTM. T-403 (Huntsman Co.) are effective. Also, alkanolamines such as triethanolamine, diethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, diisopropanolamine, t-butyltolylenediamine, triaminonane, diethyltolylenediamine, and chlorodiaminobenzene may be used.

Other materials can optionally be added to the polyurethane during production to reduce problems during production or to provide desired properties in the polyurethane product. Among the other additives are fillers including reground polyurethane foam, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, and the like; UV stabilizers; fire retardants; bacteriostats; cell openers; dyes; and antistatic agents. It is also desirable to include stabilizers and antioxidants such as hindered amine light stabilizers and benzotriazoles.

A cell opening agent, such as a polyethylene oxide monol or polyol of an equivalent weight greater than about 200 with a hydroxyl functionality of two or greater, may be included. For example, one cell opening agent is a polyethylene oxide adduct of glycerol of a molecular weight of about 990 gms/mole, with an equivalent weight of about 330. The cell opening agent should be present at about 0.001 to about 20 pphp.

Solid stabilizing polymers and other additives, including flame retardants, colorants, dyes and anti-static agents, which are conventionally known in the art may be used with the formulations of the present invention. Those additives listed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,694 are exemplary and are incorporated herein by reference.

Other fillers and additives such as esters of aliphatic polyhydroxy compounds and unsaturated carboxylic acids may also be used. Examples are acrylates, such as ethylene glycol diacrylate; triethylene glycol diacrylate; tetramethylene glycol diacrylate; trimethylolpropane triacrylate; trimethylolethane triacrylate; pentaerythritol diacrylate; pentaerythritol triacrylate; pentaerythritol tetraacrylate; dipentaerythritol tetraacrylate; dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate; dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate; tripentaerythritol octaacrylate; glycerol diacrylate; methacrylates, such as triethylene glycol dimethacrylate; tetramethylene glycol dimethacrylate; trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate; trimethylolethane trimethacrylate; pentaerythritol dimethacrylate; pentaerythritol trimethacrylate; pentaerythritol tetramethacrylate; dipentaerythritol dimethacrylate; dipentaerythritol trimethacrylate; dipentaerythritol tetramethacrylate; tripentaerythritol octamethacrylate; ethylene glycol dimethacrylate; 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate; sorbitol tetramethacrylate and the like; itaconates, such as ethylene glycol diitaconate; propylene glycol diitaconate; 1,2-butanediol diitaconate; tetramethylene glycol diitaconate; pentaerythritol triitaconate and the like; crotonates such as ethylene glycol dicrotonate; diethylene glycol dicrotonate; pentaerythritol tetracrotonate and the like; and maleates, such as ethylene glycol dimaleate; triethylene glycol dimaleate; pentaerythritol dimaleate and the like.

An anti-oxidant, such as a hindered phenolic, i.e., IRGANOX.RTM. 1010 (Ciba-Geigy), an organic phosphite, or both, may be added to the composition containing the plasticizer. Stabilizers such as tetrabutylhexamethylenediamine are also beneficially added.

The crosslinker/extender additive beneficially improves the integrity of low index foams; meanwhile, the plasticizer would provide good “hand” and physical properties along with improvements to airflow and rebound properties.

The abrasive portion of the product is, preferably, a reticulated foam product. These reticulated foam products are well known and commercially available. Generally, they comprise a reticulated polyurethane foam.

In preparing such reticulated abrasive foams, typically, a slow melt is carried out in the presence of a suitable reticulating agents such as dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylacetamide, formamide, dimethylformamide, II-pyrrolidone and I-methyl II-pyrrolidone. These reticulating agents cause a controlled melting of the sponge material during the freeze-drying process.

Also, polyether poloyol-based hydrophobic polyurethane foams may be used therein for both the reticulated and non-reticulated portions. Such combined scouring and sponge products are disclosed in the prior art such as in U.S. Patent No. 3,861,993, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In practicing the present invention a particularly preferred polyurethane foam to be used herein is that which is sold by Armaly Brand Products under the trademark Estracell. Estracell is a synthetic polyurethane polyester polyurethane foam which does not support bacterial growth thereby providing a longer useful life for the product.

It should be further noted that in practicing the present invention the sponge or base portion hereof can be a cellulosic material and the abrasive portion can be a non-woven fiber which is either glued or flame laminated to the cellulosic or cellulose portion.

Representative abrasive materials include, for example, polyester fibers, polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, nylon with or without aluminum oxide being incorporated therewith, and so forth.

A particularly preferred product comprises an Estracell polyurethane sponge portion and a non-woven fiber nylon abrasive material adhered thereto by flame laminating, extrusion or with a suitable adhesive.

It is to be readily appreciated from the preceding that there has been described herein a cleaning device, which enables effective cleaning of edges and corners. 

1. A sponge for cleaning, installing or smoothing wallpaper comprising: a pliable flexible one-piece body of a polymeric material having open cells and at least one cleaning surface, the body having a generally planar first surface, the first surface having opposite ends which define a length of the sponge and opposite edges which form a width of the sponge, a second surface that extends between the ends, and first and second sidewalls, respectively, that extend between the first and second surfaces, the second surface including a flat surface that extends upwardly from the first end and is at an acute angle Θ to the first surface to form a beveled edge for engaging corner junctions and an arcuate surface that extends between the second end and conjoins with the upward extension of the flat surface, the arcuate surface being concave down in cross-section for nesting the crotch formed between the thumb and index finger of the hand and positioning the thumb and fingers of the hand for gripping engagement with one and the other of the sidewalls.
 2. The sponge of claim 1, wherein: the sidewalls extend generally perpendicularly upward from the first and second edges of the first surface, the first and second surfaces are generally symmetrically disposed about a vertical plane disposed perpendicularly to the first surface and medially of the sidewalls, and the acute angle Θ is less than 90° but more than 85° degrees to a perpendicular to the first surface.
 3. The sponge of claim 1, wherein: the distance between the second surface and the first surface defines the height of the sponge, the length being more than twice that of the width and the height being approximately the same as the width.
 4. The sponge of claim 1 wherein: the arcuate surface generally approximates that of an ellipse, the major axis of which is disposed in the first surface and extends between the ends thereof.
 5. The sponge of claim 1, wherein: the arcuate surface is truncated at the second end to form a second beveled edge.
 6. The sponge of claim 1, wherein: the arcuate surface is truncated at the second end to form a second beveled edge.
 7. The sponge of claim 1, wherein: the sponge is a open-celled hydrophilic polyurethane foam.
 8. The sponge of claim 7, wherein the foam is a polyester polyurethane foam.
 9. A hand-held sponge for applying, smoothing and cleaning wallpaper being applied to walls and corners formed between walls, the sponge being of one piece construction and formed of a resiliently deformable foraminous material, the sponge comprising a planar cleaning surface having first and second ends, an arcuate surface for nesting in the crotch of a user's hand, a pair of sidewalls extending between the surfaces and adapted to be gripped by the thumb and fingers of a user's hand, and a flat surface extending between the first edge of the cleaning surface and the arcuate surface to form a sharp beveled edge at said first end, the flat surface being between about 80°-90° to the cleaning surface, and the separation between the sidewalls being about half the distance between the ends of the cleaning surface to provide an effective sponge body for gripping by the hand of a user. 